Method and apparatus for cooling cans and their contents



y 4, 1954 R. L. REXFORD ET AL 257M 48 .METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING CANS AND THEIR comrsu'rs Filed Oct. 9, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A INVENTORS R BERT LEE REXF R mamas w. wooDs JBTTORI EY May 4, 1954 R. L. REXFORD El AL 2,677,248

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR coouuc CANS AND THEIR CONTENTS Filed Oct. 9, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A PI ZNVENTORS ROBF'RT 13 3 REXFORD Barges w. WOODS ATTORNE May 4, 1954 R.'L. REXFORD El Al. 2,677,248

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING CANS AND THEIR CONTENTS Filed Oct. 9, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 8.

INVENTORS ROBERT LEE REDFORD Jfimgsw. we on s Patented May 4, 1954 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING CANS AND THEIR CONTENTS Robert Lee Rexford and James W. Woods, Lake Wales, Fla, assignors to American Machinery Corporation, Fairvilla, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application October 9, 1952, Serial No. 313,912

15 Claims.

ing machine to a cooling apparatus to reduce the temperature of the container, and its contents, to approximately that of room temperature so as to avoid, so-called, stack-burn and to enable the cans or containers to be labeled and packed for shipping.

The cooling apparatus conventionally used for this purpose, during approximately the past decade or more, includes a moving belt upon which the containers may be spun about their axes, a conveyor means positioned immediately above the belt for moving the containers along the length of the belt, and a device for spraying cold or cool water onto the cans to cool the surfaces thereof, the belt being driven at a faster speed than the conveyor so that the containers will be caused to revolve rapidly to agitate their contents in contact with the cooled walls of the container.

Prior to the employment of the aforesaid conventional cooling apparatus, some attempts were made to cool cans by the employment of a spinning belt but, if the belt was horizontally level, it was found that the cans would not spin but be conveyed through the apparatus without spinning about their axes to any material extent; and, if one end of the belt was elevated so as to incline the belt, the cans would be spun but would not progress along the belt in the direction of the travel of the belt and discharge therefrom, thus remaining in the apparatus. As a result the, so-called, bar conveyor, shown in the aforementioned patent, was employed in one form or another to advance the containers through the cooling apparatus while spinning them by the underlying belt to agitate and quickly cool their contents. The type of cooling apparatus, exemplified by the aforementioned patent, has functioned very well and a considerable number are now in use; however, the utilization of the conveyorcomprising a pair of spaced parallel chains driven over sprockets and having transverse bars connected between their length at spaced intervalsadds considerably to the original cost of the machine and their maintenance is very high as the chains were continually exposed to the corroding action of the cooling water.

We have found that exceptional results may be obtained in a can cooling apparatus, employing a spinning belt and a water cooling medium only, by arranging the container supporting reach or flight of the spinning belt at an inclination of about inch elevation to the running foot of said flight and providing at intervals along said flight a plurality of, so-called, check-gates which allow the containers, being advanced and spun by said flight, to pass thereunder but which will prevent the cans from rolling back beyond said checkgates at any time they lose sufiicient frictional traction with the belt to advance forwardly and upwardly of the inclined surface of said flight of the belt.

This discovery permits the elimination of the, so-called, bar conveyor overlying the belt and its attended cost and maintenance. We have also discovered that with the improvements of this invention a hot can, and its contents, can be cooled to a temperature of approximately 100 F. or less, from a temperature of approximately 200 F., more or less, in about one-half of the time required by the so-called conventional can cooling apparatus. Thus, where the aforementioned conventional can cooling apparatus for cooling 2. given product may require an apparatus sixty feet in length, the present invention permits the same to be done in an apparatus about one-half the length, the canned produce progressing through both machines at about the same speed. Obviously, greater production at less cost than heretofore is obtained.

It is common knowledge in the produce packing art that certain packed edibles, which are semi-liquid or contain more solid mass content (such as canned sliced apples, peaches, pears, pineapples, grapefruit, beans and the like) require a greater time element for cooling than do liquid products such as vegetable and fruit juices, because the solids within the container are more difficult to agitate and their contained heat is given up at a slower rate. We have found further that by causing the containers to reverse positions endwise several times, during their passing through the cooling apparatus, their solid contents are caused to better shift positions to bring the warmer foods in the center of the cans to mix with the cooler foods at the outer surfaces of the can (or, stated another way, the previously cooler contents moved toward the center of the can) and a more uniform and quicker heat trans fer is obtained than by only spinning the can.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved method and apparatus for effecting a much greater heater transfer efficiency in the cooling of scaled cans and their contents and to attain this with much simpler and less expensive instrumentalities, both in original cost and in maintenance, than has heretofore been possible and in about one-half the time, thus requiring a cooling apparatus of one-half the size than heretofore.

Other objects and novel features of the present 3 invention willbe apparent fromthe following detailed specification.

A more detailed understanding of the manner in which the present invention may be accomplished can be ascertained from the following.

description of the present embodiments thereof as now actually employed and which are illustrated in the accompanying" drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view inelevation of one unit of the can-cooling apparatus of the present invention, the other unit being fragmentarily shown in side elevation and as connectedwith the first unit by means of an end-twister for the cans;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view in elevation of the-basic working'elements of one unit of said can-cooling apparatus;

FigureB is a cross-sectional'view taken transversely through one unit of the apparatus substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one unit of the apparatus taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3 downwardly in' the direction of" the arrows shown;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the bottom of" the drip pan showing the preferred type of openings therein;

Figure 6 is a cross view of the bottom of said drip pan and taken substantially on line 6-6 of'Fig. 5;

Figure 7' is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line l'T of Fig. 4 to illustrate the detail construction of the mounted checkgates for the cans; and

Figure file a transverse sectional'view showing a modified construction for acan cooling unit of this invention.

Like characters of reference throughout the specification and drawings refer to similar and like parts.

The present invention may be. carried into practice with a cooling apparatus disclosed in the aforementionedpatent but, in which the can advancing conveyor 26. (as shown in said patent), and its constituent parts. as. well as its drive means, are eliminated;

The cooling apparatus of this invention, therefore, may comprise twounitsA andB (see Fig. 1) of identical construction connected by a can endwise twister 2]; and each section may comprise a trough. l supported bylegs. l I. at spaced inter vals alongitslengthand positioned tobe slightly upwardly inclined from its receiving or intake. end to its discharge end. Within the trough Hi.

is disposed a flexible endless belt 52 (usually a fabric reinforced rubber belt) extending the.

length of the trough and having its end portions extending slightly beyond the same as shown. At the intake end" of the trough It is a sump tank' [3 into which the" trough discharges and projects for a distance-outwardly from said end of the trough. The sump-tank Ill-has anoutlet 13 for draining thesame or which may be connected. with a suitable.recirculating'system that recools thewater and reuses it. A drum M- is journalled transversely of thetrough I ll :and.overlies said tank. l3. and has the lower end. of said. belt trained thereabout; and. the upper or discharge end of the belt I2 is tra ned about the drum I mounted on a supporting frame 15. positioned to support the. discharge end of the trough I0. Mounted on the supporting frame. i5 is a motor I! operatively connected to a variablespeed' drive device 18' connected by a chain or and looking- 4 belt I 9 to a sprocket ore pulley 20 fast on the axis of the drum [5. In' practice" the portion of the trough l0 supported by the frame l6 has its bottom wall cut away for a distance at its discharge end andthe bottom or return reach of the belt l2, passing over drum I5, is passed over a belt-tightening device (which may comprise a horizontally adjustable roller 2! and a vertically adjustable roller. 23.) and, thence, to a roller 23' positioned'on. the framework I5 and aligned with the bottom wall of the trough iii to direct the'return flight of the belt l2 into the trough. The legs H may have vertically adjustable feet I 1 to vary the degree of inclination of the upper or can supporting flight of the belt 12.

The tank I3 is surmounted by'a framework 24 which supports a transverse can feeding belt 25 that delivers filled and sealed hot cans C in a vertical position to the cooling apparatus from a can sealing machine, not shown. A conventional can-turner 28 is provided to guide the cans from the feed belt 25 and to deliver them upon the lower end of the spinner belt 12 in a rolling horizontal position transversely of the belt.

As previously stated, the detailed construction of the correlated parts of the one or more units of the cooling apparatus, such as A and B herein shown, are identical and'a description of. one is a description of the other except that, in some instanceathe trough lUmay extend continuously under one or more units, thus requiring only one sump-tank 13. In either case, the trough iii may have the inner surface of its bottom wall provided with ridges, or otherwise provided with.-

equivalent means, to contact and support the lower or return flight of the spinner belt 2 at spaced intervals. to prevent undue friction between the belt and the bottom wall or the adhering of the belt thereto. The upper or can supporting flight of said belt 12 is supported by and moves over a grating 28 extending the length of said upper flight of the belt, said grating being removably disposed upon cross-bars 29 interposed between said flights of the belt 12 within the trough Ill and connected at their. ends to uprights 30. There are a plurality of these uprights 30 oppositely positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the opposing sidewalls of the trough H] for supporting the water-cooling-distributing means and the can guide means. The upper fiightof the belt I2 is guided in its path of movement by guidesfil arranged on opposite longitudinal sides thereof. These guides 3i maybe in the. form of angle-irons having one flange fixedto'said; cross-bars 29 and the other. flange extending for a distance above and in substantial abutting contact with saidlongitudinal edges of'the belt 12 to preclude excessive drainage therebetween and to retain a shallow depth of water along the length of the belt.

The cans C fed'into' either unit A or Bof the cooling apparatus are guided, as they advance through the. apparatus, in one or more lanes on the belt I2 by a plurality of splash guides 32, each of which comprises an elongatedstrip positioned vertically edgewise' and extending longitudinally of the belt; Three of'these splash guides are shown in the drawings, dividing the belt into two lanes and each, preferably, is of a height to extend from a point slightly abovethe upper edges of the belt-guides 3| to a point above the cans being cooled. The-lower longitudinal edge portions of the splash guides are'outwardly flared,

as at 32 toward the ends of the cans so that water splashing from the cans or onto the splash guides will be directed upon or thrown back against the ends of the cans. Hangers 33, shown i the form of stud-bolts, extend at spaced intervals from the upper edge of the splash guides 32 and project through an elongated slot in supporting transverse bars 34 secured at their end to intermediate points of the uprights 30, whereby the splash guides may be adjusted transversely of the belt l2 along the slots 34 to accommodate cans of different sizes for any given run of cans in the apparatus.

In order to cool the cans C, and their contents, water is dropped upon them, as they spin and float back and forth on the belt 25, from the spray (shown in Figure 8) or from a drip pan 35 (shown in the other figures of the drawings) overlying the belt and extending the length of the trough It, the bottom surface of the pan 35 being perforated throughout its area overlying the belt [2 with a large number of small holes 36 which cause the water to drop on the cans in small streams or large drops. These holes or perforations 36 are preferably formed by punching only one side of a round hole and depressing the lip or tongue 31 at a slight angle so that the passages provided by the holes are not completely open, as shown in Figure 6, and are positioned or directed upstream with respect to the flow of water over the holes. By this arrangement any foreign matter carried by the water passing the openings will not lodge in the openings as the water will keep the openings unobstructed. The drip pan 35 may be supported by adiustable hangers 39, as best shown in Figure 3, and which may comprise U-shaped bolts extending upwardly through openings in cross members do extending between and secured to uprights 30, suitable nuts 39 being threaded on the upper ends of the hangers to maintain them in adjusted position. The pan 35 is adapted to rest upon the depending closed or cradle end of the hangers as and be supported thereby.

Water is supplied to the pan 35 by a pipe 38 overying the pan in substantially spaced relation therefrom and extending longitudinally thereof and mounted on the cross-member 40. A plurality of nozzles 41 located at intervals along the length of the supply pipe 38 maintains a shallow film or depth of water over the entire surface of the pan. This arrangement feeds the water to and allows it to drop through all of the perforations 35 in the bottom of the pan 35. It is preferred to supply the nozzles 4| from the pipe 38 by feed extension pipes 38 tapped from said supply pipe at selected intervals along its length and which extend downwardly toward the pan 35 and are provided with a flow-regulating and cut-off valve 38 From the lower end of each feed pipe 38* horizontally extends two lateral branches that terminate in resections or fittings s! that are so positioned as to throw jets of water in opposite directions longitudinally of the drip pan, whereby the water is evenly fed over the bottom of the pan 35.

The above describes generally one of the apparatuses to which the present invention is applicable; and which invention comprises arranging the upper or can supporting flight of the spinner belt 12 at inclinations and driving it at speeds in accordance with the following table for different size cans and in the provision of, socalled, check-gates 42 positioned at intervals along the length of the belt to check or limit the for the cans.

backward movement of the cans downward inclined surface of the belt.

As above indicated, the most satisfactory inclination of the upper or supporting surface of the spinning belt I2 is one-half inch per lineal foot for all sizes of cans. Any material lowering of the belt beyond inclinations indicated tends to cause the cans C to be carried through the machine without the proper spinning required for cooling within the minimum length of the apparatus that it is possible to cool said cans. However, if the inclination of the belt is materially more than about three-fourths of an inch grade per linear foot, the cans Will not be moved through the cooling unit by the movement of the belt, but, after a certain number of cans have crowded upon the intake end portion of the belt, they will remain there and be merely spun thereby, this being apparently because the pressure or the oncoming can from the feed belt is insufficient to push the cans on the belt upwardly of the incline to the discharge end of the belt; hence the previous need for a positive conveyor When the belt is so positioned, as just indicated and operated at the proper speed for a given size can in accordance with the above table, the cans C being delivered to the lower end of the belt, from the can turner 26 or from the can twister 21, will roll upon the belt and commence their spinning operation (in the direction of the arrow shown). So far as can be determined, due to their frictional contact to the belt in addition to the urge given by the crowding of oncoming subsequent cans delivered to the belt, the can C will progress erratically and upwardly of the belt at a slower rate of speed than the movement of the belt itself and be discharged from the discharge end of the belt. The sheet of this erratic action of the cans C appears to cause them, and their contents, to cool more quickly.

From observation, it has been observed that, at the receiving end of the belt t2, the cans will most frequently be in close contact for a short distance and from that point on will start the erratic action mentioned, while being spun by the belt in the shallow stream of water flowing down the belt and being subject to the dripping action or spray of water from the water pan 35 and the action of the splash guides 32. When a can is delivered to the belt from, the turner 26 or the twister 2?, it has been observed that the cap, which may be contacted thereby at the lower end of the belt, may stop spinning momentarily, as well as all other cans in immediate sequential contact, and progress forwardly on the belt for a short distance, while at the same time resuming their spinning, and pass through the cooling unit, some separating from close contact one against the other and advancing further along the belt for a distance and, then, apparently losing traction and rolling back down the belt until they abut another can or a checkgate 42. Thereafter, one or more cans again actress:

will resume their progress forwardly and up wardly along the beltl-in close contact or may move out of contact with-the adjacent oncoming cans. The action of each individual can on the belt is not predictable but generally follows the pattern just. described. Nevertheless, the cans willbe spun rapidly by thebelt and intermittently progress along the belt forwardly and, then, movedown the belt. and, then, move forwardly again.

Therefore, it is assumed that the inclination of the belt in addition to the action of the oncoming cans onto the belt supply that tractional friction so necessary to give the "cans that inter mittent forward and backward movement, while being spun, to agitate-the contents-of the-cans to quickly" cool them and to progress gradually forward through the cooling unit without the need of a positive can conveyor.

This progressive 'forward'movement of the cans C through the-cooling unit of this invention" or discovery appears, however; to be dependentuponthecheck-gate's 42'inorderto prevent cans that-have advanced from the'intake end of the apparatus'from rolling back toofar against the cans at the'lower end ofthebelt. Therefore; the check-gates 42 are'provided at spaced intervals (approximately five feet apart) along thelen'gth of' the belt, beginning at about five feet from the point a can is'delivered' to the belt 12, and are constructed to allow the cans to pass thereunder; by their own momentum, but which will stop the backward or rolling movement of the cans beyond'the' said check-gate, yet will allow a back and forth float movement of the cans between adjacent check-gates;

While the. belt speeds; above indicated, have been found satisfactory to" produce the results stated, it is possible that the optimum speeds may be varied for containers having contents of difierent consistencies order to" obtain the action above described.

The'check-gates 42 are arranged in each lane and each may, and preferably does, comprise a U-shaped rod having its closed end journalled in a sleeve 43 carried on a plate 4"4 that is removably fastened, as by bolts and nuts'fasteners '46, to each of the cross bars 34. The legs of the U-shap'ed' member 42 extend in the direction of the movement of the belt and have their distal extremities extending arcuat'ely' downward" toward the belt I? so that its under concavedsid'e maybe contacted by'ana'dvancingcanon the belt and be raised by the momentum of the can in order to allow the can to pass thereunderandtherebeyond. Immediately after a can has passedunder the arcuate extremitiesWZ of the check-gate, it drops by gravityto a positionwith its lower ends slightly out of contact with the top surface of the. belt ['2' and is held in this position by lateral stops 43 onthe ends ofthe sleeve 43. These stops may comprise an adjusting screw s threaded in a lug Z on the ends of the sleeve 43. Of course, the lower extremities of the check-gate 4'2 may'rest uponthe-belt 12 but, over a period of time, the friction may groove the belt and cause its quicker deterioration. Cans that have passed beyond a checkgate 42 may later lose their tractional grip on the belt and .roll down the belt again and abut the convex side of the legs 42 of'the check-gate and be stopped therebyh This momentarily stops the spinning of the can and allowsr'it. to gain its. tractional or frictional grip on the belt to progress forwardly again whil'ebei'ng spun thereb'y'in ardir'ectiomopposite to its forward-progress through the apparatus;

The opposite-legaliz of theicheck-gate should be separated apart suflicient to engage the can near its -opposite ends-i. c., each of the legs should engage the cans at a point approximately midway between the ends of the can and its centen when the can is a horizontal position. For different size cans-different check-gates, having theirleg portions 42 properly spaced, may be inserted inpla'ce upon the cross-bar 34.

A previously indicated; acooler unit con-- structed as above and including the above improvement will cool cans inapproximately onehalf the time'that theymaybe-cooled'with similar coolers employing the can conveyor (disclosed at 26 in the aforesaid: Letters Patent) and, for containers containing a liquid content, such as fruit-and vegetable juices, only one unit, such as A-- in Figure I, is sufficient and may not be morethan thirtyfeetin length as against fifty to sixty feet heretofore, thus conserving valuable flbor space. In this event, the twister 21 will not be'employed but a can take-off may be provided similarly as shown in the aforesaid Letters Patent and indicated by the parts 65 and 65 thereof;

Containers containing more solid contents, may be cooled more quickly if, after a preliminary cooling in unit A- of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, they are'passed through a double twister 2'! which will shift the can endwise in opposite directions, as stated above, and then pass it to a second unit B of the apparatus, the unit B being the same as unit A. However, if when the machineis made in twoor more units, the length of each unit of the" machine may be materially shortened, in-some instances, to fifteen or twenty feet in length each.

A twister 27 is provided for each lane of can C on the spinning belts I 2- and is what is known as a double-twister. Each twister 21 is of conventional construction comprising spaced coextensive narrow strips c-of metal or rigid material formed to guide and change the position of the cans C as they'pass therethrough under their ownmovement usually by gravity. Each doubletwister Z1 is essentially two single twisters t and t jointed end-to-end in tandem, one twister t being formed to turn a can C endwise in one direction and the twister 13" being formed to turn the can endwise in the reverse or opposite direction. Each single twister t and t is shown as being formed to turn a can endwise but it is within the purview of this invention that each single twister be capable of turning the can 360 or that more than two'single twisters t or t be employed. Also, asshown in Figure 1, the twister 2! is arranged to receive cans in their horizontal rolling. position from the discharge end of belt 12 of. unit A and is inclined downwardly to deliver the cans C to the. intake end .of belt [2 of unit B, which is at a lower level, in a horizontal rolling position.

In Figure 8'is shown a modified form of cooling unit with which the invention has performed satisfactorily. 'In this form of the invention the splashguides 32 and the drip pan 35 have been eliminated. The upper surface of the upper flight of the belt [2" has been divided in two lanes by a stationary can guide 56 disposed above an intermediate portion of thebelt and the belt edgeguides 5l"'have beenmade higher than the similar guides 3|. overlying each lane of the belt and extending longitudinally thereof is a water pipe 52 extending the full length of the cooler and having disposed thereover in spaced relation therewith an arcuate hood 53, the pipe 52 having a plurality of perforations 52 in its upper side adapted to direct water against the undersurface of the hood, from which hood the water drops down upon the cans below. The hood 53 is of such dimensions as to span the area of its lane in order that the water dropping therefrom will contact the entire area of the cans passing beneath them. The hoods 53 may be supported in the position shown by any suitable means such, for instance, as bracket arms 54. The upper and cansupporting surface of the spinning belt I2 is, of course, arranged at the same inclination or inclinations as previously mentioned for [2, shown in I Figs. 1, 2 and 3; and check-gates 42 are similarly employed at spaced intervals along the path of movement of the cans C on said belt, the checkgates 42 in Fig. 8 being illustrated in their partially raised positions as when a can is beginning to pass thereunder. A water collecting trough w is disposed along the lower portion of the apparatus under the grating 28 for the same purpose as trough l shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4; and the return flight of the belt l2 may be brought through said trough. This type of apparatus is very economical to construct and embodies the principles of the invention above stated; however,

within 1 minute 18 seconds, whereas it has required 2 minutes in the older type of coolers. It may also be stated that the speeds of the belt given in the above table are only recommended speeds and are not to be considered as limiting, because these speeds may be varied depending upon conditions in any plant or the size of and the consistency or weight of the contents of the cans.

Having thus described the invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to various variations from the exact arrangement and performance above recited and that the invention is not to be limited except in accordance with the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim, as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of changing the temperature of the contents of packed rollable containers comprising delivering said containers in a sequential flow onto the lower end of an inclined flat planarlymoving surface and in a position to roll in the direction of movement of said surface, causing said surface to move upwardly to its inclination at a speed to rapidly spin said containers about their own axes and to advance them without the aid of other conveying assistance, along and in the direction of the movement of said surface while permitting said containers to periodically and erratically move back and forth along and relative to the line of movement of said surface; arresting said backward movement of the containers at spaced intervals along said surface to permit said containers to regain suffi cient frictional traction with said moving surface to advance forwardly and upwardly thereof; and directing a cooling medium upon said containers during their movement on said surface.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the inclination of said surface is arranged at substantially one-half to substantially three-quarters inch elevation for each linear foot thereof and said surface is moved at speeds varying approximately between to feet per minute.

3. The method of changing the temperature of the contents of packed rollable containers comprising passing said containers in a sequential flow and successively onto an inclined planarly moving surface and in a position to roll thereon in the line of movement of said surface; causing said surface to move upwardly of its inclination at a speed and at an inclination to rapidly spin said containers about their own axes and to advance upwardly along the surface, in the direction of the movement thereof, while permitting said containers to move periodically downward of said surface, arresting said downward movement of said containers down the belt at substantially spaced intervals in their downward movement; directing a cooling medium upon the containers during their travel on said belt; and turning said containers endwise at an intermediate point in their advancing travel along said surface to agitate the contents of said containers endwise of the latter.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein said endwise turning step of said containers comprises causing said containers to move about an axis transversely of said containers successively to opposite endwise positions to agitate their contents endwise, and then again delivering said containers in said rollable position onto a said inclined moving surface.

5. An apparatus for changing the temperature of the contents of packed rollable containers, comprising a supporting frame, a conveyor mounted on said frame and having a plane inclined surface adapted to receive said containers in a rollable position thereon, means directing a cooling medium upon the containers on said belt, means for moving said receiving surface of the belt upwardly of its inclinations to cause said containers to spin about their own axes, the inclination of said surface of the belt being such as to advance said containers along the belt in the direction of its movement while being spun by said belt, with an erratic back and forth motion relative to the line of movement of the arresting belt, and means ,operatively mounted on said frame at points along the path of travel of said containers to allow said containers to pass thereby in their said advance along said belt and to limit the backward movement of any of said cans downward of said belt, the spacing of said arresting means being such as to allow said back and forth movement of said containers therebetween for a substantial distance of the belt.

6. An apparatus for cooling hot-packed rollable containers, and their contents, comprising an inclined belt having a surface adapted to receive said containers in a rollable position thereon, a water distributing device overlying said belt along its length and positioned to direct water upon the containers on said belt for substantially the length of said belt, variable speed means for moving said belt upwardly of its inclinations to cause said containers to spin about their own axes, and means fixedly positioned at spaced intervals along the length of said belt and movably mounted to alow said containers to ss t reby i -their 25 1 1 ;-.adv.anc.e alon -sa belt and norm lllynbiased toqa position. for limiting the-backward movement ofhanysofisaidcom tai-ners downward of said belt-thejnclination of Saidbelt bein suchas to advance said containers along the belt in the direction of,-i;tS-.; 0vBment,

while being-spun by said belt ywithan intermittent back and forth smovement between said limiting means,

'7. An apparatus for cooling hotepacked rollable containers, and their contents-comprising an inclined belt having a surfaceadapted to receive said containers in a rollable position thereon, means directing a cooling medium upon thescontainers onsaid belt, means for moving 3 said belt upwardly-of its inclinations to causesaid containers to spinabout their own axes, the inclinatio of said belt being such asto advance containersto pass thereunder-in their said advance along said belt, .the distal end of each member being formed to provide'an abutment -;l-i mitingthe back-ward, movement. of any i of said containers downwardly ofsaid belt.

8. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said check-gates further include an adjustable stop means-to limit the downward movement of the distal end of said pivotedmember with respect to-saidbfilt.

9. An apparatusfor cooling hot packed rollable containersand their-contents, comprising an inclined belt having a vsurface adapted to receive said containers in a rollable position thereon, means directing a cooling medium onto the-containers on said belt, means for moving said belt upwardly of its inclinations Tt'O cause said containerstospin about their own axes, the

inclination of said belt being such as to advance said containers along the belt in the direction of its movement while being spun by .said belt, a plurality of substantially U-shape members positioned at spaced intervalsalong the length of and overlying said belt, the closedendsof each of saidmernbersbeing freely pivoted andhavin its-18 Portions extending in the direction of the movement of saidbeltand into the-path of the containers advancing thereon, the distal end portions of said leg being arcuately curved to allow said cans-to pass thereunder in their said adv nc a o aid be and to limit the backa d mo ement of any ofiseid containers downwa dlyof sa d be t- .1 A appa a u as claimed in claim a chersmeans 1 positionedwat spaced intervals along the wlength ofwsaidbelt and .mountedto allow said -:con-tainers= to pass thereby in their said advance along-said belt andlimiting the backward-movemerit-of any: .of said containers -downwardly l of said belt, and conveying .means extending betweeneadjacentzends of said units. to-receive-said containers discharged from aonenunit andto- .de-

liver them. to the next succeeding: unit =in.-a roll- -ablenositiowomthebeltof :said latter unit-and fun tioning tdturn-said containers endwise, while .ibeinglpassedfrom one-unitto the otherxto-agi- -'1ial3-.;theCOIlliBIltS-xOfdihG containers endwise of -.the-containers.

.12. fin apparatus :for cooling hot-.packedlrollableueontaincrs, and :their contents, comprising :a rblurality of cool ng units -.arrange'd in -;serie-s {to successivelyzreceiveza flow :ofcontainers, said ccooler units each including 'means to spin said containcrsiabouttheir ownwaxes while-being advanced therethrough, and conveying means exatend-ingbetweennd-jacent ends of saidunits'to receive-said containers discharged from. one unit rzandrto deliver themttozthernext succeeding unit :iIl a rollable ipcsition roll "the belt' of said latter unit and functioning to turn said=containers end- -wise--;whiledoeing inassedifrom :one unit to the -.ot-her*to agitate thGaOGIItBIltS-Jflf the-containers exrdyvise :of the containers.

-13..-'An apparatus :as -set forth in claim .12, wherein said :conveying :means includesa container twister-guide having its .intake --end elevated-to receivesaid'containers' from-apreceding :nnit and-declining to its discharge end.

14..An apparatus as :set forth in claim 12, xwhereinthe discharge 12nd ofa preceding unit is at .aihigher 'elevatlonthan the receiving end ofcasucceeding-,unit arrdwherein: said conveying meansiisa twister guidelthroughwhich said con-- :tainersgravitate and formed to alternately turn -said;containersendwise toopposite positions (111!- ling their-passage therethrough, whereby to agitate the contents :in said :containers endwise of t-he latter.

.1115. .An apnaratusfor cooling hot-packed con- :tainers, and their contents, comprising a plurrality of qooling'nnitsarranged in series to-suc- .cessively receive a flowof containers, the dischargelend. of aprecedingunit being ata higher elevation than the receiving endof-a succeeding unit, means advancing .said containers through each unit, and a twister meansbetweenadjacent .ends of adiacent units for changing the endwise ,positionofsaid containers andpositioned to reroeive said containers discharged .from a precedlug unit and declining.toideliverisaidcontainers to asucceedingunit,wherehytoagitate the contents said containers endwise of the latter, each of said .cooling units including container spinningmeans anda liquid coolingmedium distributing means.

References :Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l,5'l0,235 .Eooks Jan. 19, 1926 1',89J.,425 Kronquest Dec. 20, 1932 2,477,992 .Leonard Aug. .2, 1949 2,595,223 Burgess May 20, 1952 

